Tauranga social service agencies are unsure how the ‘zero Budget' will affect demand for their services, but are already seeing an increase in the number of middle income residents seeking help.

Representatives from Salvation Army's Community Ministries and Tauranga Community Trust Foodbank believe the Budget is going to offer 'nothing” for the people who seek their help.

Demand for the foodbank's help is on the way up.

'I'm not expecting great and wonderful things. They (the government) are on their way to a hiding to nothing, they've got no money,” says Community Ministries director Major Stephen Crump.

'I'm not going to say ‘great', the people we are helping are going to be better off.”

Tauranga Community Trust Foodbank chairman Don Brebner believes changes in the Budget will increase demand for their service.

'It could bring a whole sector into us because there's going to be more looking for support.”

Don is particularly worried about changes to Working for Families.

He believes lifting the qualifying threshold will impact on already tight budgets.

'There's nobody there that wants to be at the foodbank. By and large the vast majority do not want to be there.

'Some of them have had a sleepless night working up enough courage to come in here.”